Spontaneous formation of aligned DNA nanowires by capillarity-induced skin folding.

ABSTRACT: Although DNA nanowires have proven useful as a template for fabricating functional nanomaterials and a platform for genetic analysis, their widespread use is still hindered because of limited control over the size, geometry, and alignment of the nanowires. Here, we document the capillarity-induced folding of an initially wrinkled surface and present an approach to the spontaneous formation of aligned DNA nanowires using a template whose surface morphology dynamically changes in response to liquid. In particular, we exploit the familiar wrinkling phenomenon that results from compression of a thin skin on a soft substrate. Once a droplet of liquid solution containing DNA molecules is placed on the wrinkled surface, the liquid from the droplet enters certain wrinkled channels. The capillary f

SUBMITTER: Nagashima S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5474812 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature